Published in the December 23, 2016 edition
By JENNIFER GENTILE
MELROSE — The Melrose High Lady Raider gymnastic team returns after another undefeated season last year, when they earned their sixth league title in seven years and qualified for sectionals with a high score of 138.54, besting league rival Winchester.
This year Melrose returns a good amount of talent, including their captains Stephanie Dutra, Tania Dutra and Shay Fennell. They join Isabel Albuja, Mya Marshall, Brooke Barriss and Caroline Fogarty and newcomers Hannah Anastasi, Olivia Bernis and Kara Fahey. Melrose coach Denise Valdez also enjoys an infusion of new talent with seven freshmen, including Elizabeth Blatchford, Jane Harrington, Nia Kovacev, Nicole Nzui, Gabrielle Prodgers, Keira Smith and Katie Wright.
THE REIGNING league champ Melrose High gymnastic teams opens their season at home on Jan. 4. (file photo)
This year, Melrose wants to stay focused on being healthy and staying healthy. A few bumps and bruises might make their opening night (Jan. 4) a challenge but Melrose still has the manpower to win. One big factor will be Shay Fennell, a junior captain recovering from an injury. “She’s slowly but surely getting to her old form,” says her coach. “The strength is there.” Fennell is a four-event athlete who will be counted to bring skill and points for Melrose.
Both Tanya and Stephanie Dutra fall in that same boat. Both bring tremendous experience, with Tanya showing strength in bars and beam and Stephanie trying her hand this season at the always-difficult tsuk vault. Albuja, meanwhile, should show promise in the beam, Marshall and Fogarty in the floor and sophomore Brooke Barriss could lead in vault and bars.
Melrose opens their season against rival Burlington on Jan. 4 at the YMCA Gymnastics Center in Saugus. A win will be critical for Melrose to get a chance to repeat as league champ.
“We’d love to start strong and have a winning season,” says Valdez. “We want our seniors to have a great year.”
2017 Season Schedule
1/4 vs. BURL 7:30
1/10 @ WAK 4:30
1/13 @ WOB 4:30
1/20 vs. REA 7:15
1/24 @ STO 4:30
1/26 @ ARL 5
2/3 vs. WIN 7:15
